Ian Munro, group CEO from CRG, said it was "difficult to comment on a historical issue" before CRG took over but it is working to improve its CQC rating.

But he said the company "has no contracts with Redcar and Cleveland Council" and CRG Homecare "is a separate operating business".

The council's Adult and Communities Scrutiny and Improvement Committee voted to "end our relationship with Allied", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The whistleblower, a manager at Allied Healthcare, spoke to the council "against the instruction of the Allied executive team" according to a report to the committee.

'Clean break'

The manager said their request to bring in agency staff to cover the visits was "declined" by bosses.

Councillors said they no longer wanted to work with either Allied or CRG.

Neil O'Brien, Labour councillor for Zetland, said: "Having had discussions with Allied and the track record we have had with them recently, I think, as a local authority doing the best for vulnerable adults in our community, we should be drawing a line under this."

Ian Jeffrey, Labour councillor for South Bank, said there should be a "clean break" from Allied and CRG.

A council spokesman said the authority is "transferring care the packages of care including staff" to another firm already working in the borough.